Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-13
A SAD CASE.
TBR LATE ATTsEprKD SUICIDE ON
THE fAsTkRs SHORE.
The Young Kan Supposed 20 Have Been
Temporarily Insane-A Singular Lot.
ter-Judge Parramore.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dlspa.ch.l

Correspondence Of tho Richmond Dispa.ch.l
OSANcocK, March 10, 1887.
George W. Mathews, the young man
who attempted to commit suicide last
saturday near Temperancoyille, in the
northern part OF Accomack, is still
alive, but his physicians are not yet
able to express an opinion favorable to
bis recovery. He was evidently suTsr-
ing from temporary insanity when he
attempted to shoot himself, as is proved
10y subsequent developments. In reply
TO n question as to why he tried to tax,
his own life he said that he believed it
had been ordained that he should do
so, and he could not resist the over
powering impulse. He stated, further.
that on the morning before he shot
himself he had gone into the woods in
tending to end his miserable existence.
but after praying he felt better and
gave up the idea. That afternoon the
inclination to take his own life returned,
and he was unable to resist it. His
uncle, s. W. Mathews, Esq, at whose
house he was staying, went over to
Temperanceville several days after
wards and got from the post-office there
the following letter, written to him by
his nephew
"Dear Uncle,-I desire that you have my
head taken off and sent 10 some prominent
surgeon In New York. IL may prove a bless
ing 10 tho world; but should you think other-
wise, do "a you lite. 1t will be all over with
me when you got this.n
From this and other things connected
with the case it is very plain that the
young man was not in his right mini
when he tried to commit suicide, and
had not been for some time past,
though his relatives and friends had
not noticed anything very strange
about him except his extreme sensitive
ness, arising, it was thought, from his
partial deafness. 1t wasat first thought
that the unfortunate young mans men
tai trouble was due to disappointed
or unrequited love; but this theory
is now generally discredited in the
community where he has lived. He rs a
member of the Temperanceville Metho-
dist Episcopal church, having been re-
ceived by letter several months ago
from church in Arkansas, where, as
has already been stated, his father Is
prominent Methodist preacher He is
also a member OF the Temperanceville
Lodge of Good Templars, and has all
along enjoyed the reputation of con-
sistent Christian and Jealous Templar.
In answer to the doctor, who asked him
if he wanted to get well, he replied that
he did if he could ever get perfectly
well again, but that he would rather
die than live such a miserable life as
he has spent for the last six months.
He declines, however, to tell what has
saddened his life, and the cause OF his
trouble still remains mystery.
The condition of Judge Parramore,
who was stricken with paralysis several
days ago, is reported to be somewhat
better to-day, and strong hopes are now
felt at least for his partial recovery.
For sixteen years he was judge of the
County Court OF Accomack, and failed
of an election by the present Legisla-
ture that elected ex-Congressman Gar
rison in his stead. Judge Parranore
was at one time prominently men
toned as a probable Independent can
didate for the office of Commonwealth
attorney at the coming spring cleo
tons.
Mr. George t. East, a well-known
citizen of Northern Accomack, is lying
critically i'll at his home near Atlantic,
and is not expected to live many days.
KALLIAs.